Has Kirk Herbstreit’s dog content gone a little too far? His social media team recently shared that Peter, the golden retriever, had “got into another steak” during a night out in New York City. In the video, the steak has been cut into small pieces, and Peter eats it from a plate set on the floor.
Herbstreit—or perhaps one of his sons—added that they wished Peter would take his time enjoying the meal. The scene was filmed and posted online, prompting a familiar argument: should dogs be eating in restaurants, particularly upscale steakhouses?
Some dog owners see no problem. One commenter said she once shared bacon with a stranger’s dog at a restaurant and enjoys seeing pets in all sorts of places, from grocery stores to airplanes.
Others were less enthusiastic. Broadcaster Craig Carton said he didn’t want to sit beside a dog while eating at a steakhouse, and questioned why the moment needed to be turned into social media content. He argued that diners should be able to enjoy their meals without a dog eating nearby.
That view drew plenty of pushback. Some commenters called the criticism needless and said Peter appeared well-behaved. Others argued that what Herbstreit feeds his dog is nobody else’s concern, as long as no one is being harmed.
There are rules to consider, though. Federal food-safety guidance and state health codes generally prohibit ordinary pets from indoor dining areas. Emotional support animals are also not covered by the restaurant access protections that apply to service animals. And even service dogs generally can’t eat from dishes meant for human customers.
Still, the debate continued, with some commenters insisting Peter deserved the steak and others saying that, rules aside, a dog eating from a plate on a restaurant floor simply isn’t something they want beside their dinner.
